Planter.



H. F. SPAULDING. PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6, 1912.

1,042,617, Patented 0ct.29, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 Inventor,

r I Attorneys,

H. F. SPAULDING.

PLANTER.

APPLIGATION FILED APB..6, 1912.

1,042,617, Patented 001;. 29, 1912. Y

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nventor Attorneys.

ni ric.

HENRY I. SPA'ULDING, 0F CANASTOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 29,1912.

Application filed April 6, 1912. Serial No. 688,947.

To a7] Hf/1077b it may concern:

lie it known that I, HENRY F. Srimnnine, a citizen of the United States.residing at Canastota, in the county of hlicCook and State of SouthDakota, have invented a new and useful Planter, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to planters, one of its objects being to providea machine of this character designed not only to plant the seeds butalso to mark off the rows and to check them so that the hills can beuniformly distributed over the field and can be easily seen afterplanting.

A further object is to provide improved means for planting the seedswithout necessitating the use of a furrow opener such as commonlyemployed.

Another object is to provide adjustable means whereby the seeds can beplanted at any depth desired.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe machine, said section being taken on the line 11 Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is arear elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through a portion of oneof the planting wheels. Fig. 4 is a section on line AB Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa section on line C--D Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe guide blocks. Fig. '7 is an enlarged section through the block andtaken longitudinally of one of the channels therein. Fig. 8 is a sectionon line EF Fig. 4.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a framepreferably formed of angle strips having stub shafts 2 extendinglaterally from the centers of the sides thereof and supported by wheels3. These wheels are spaced apart a distance equal to the distancebetween four rows of hills.

Standards 4 extend upwardly from the centers of the sides of frame 1 andbraces 5 connect the upper ends of the standards to the outer ends ofthe stub shafts 2. A cross beam 6 connects the upper ends of thestandards 4 and these standards also support the middle portions of asuper-structure made up of curved beams 7 the ends of which are attachedto front and rear ends of the frame 1 while the intermediate portions ofthe beams are bowed upwardly, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. Aplatform 8 may be mounted on the beams 7 back of the cross beam 6 and adrivers seat 9 may be located close to and above this platform. Steps 10may lead upwardly to the platform 8 from the rear portion of the frame1, these steps being supported by side strips 11 provided for thatpurpose. Se-

cured to and extending longitudinally of the standards 4 adjacent thelower ends thereof, are guide brackets 12 in which are slidably mountedthe squared ends 13 of a non-rotatable axle 14. Flexible adjustingdevices 15 are secured to the ends 13 of this axle and extend upwardlyover guide sheaves 16 journaled on the upper portions of the standards4. Said flexible elements 1 15 then extend under additional guidesheaves 17 and are connected to the lower arm of a bell crank lever 18.This lever is fulcrumed on a toothed segment 19 upstanding from thesuperstructure and any suitable means, such as a spring pressed pawl,may be provided for locking lever 18 to the segment 19. It will beapparent that by shifting lever 18 the connections 15 can be actuated soas to raise the axle 14 or to permit said axle to gravitate within theguide brackets 12.

Mounted for rotation on the axle 14 are spaced planting wheels eachincluding a rim 20 and spokes 21, these rims being spaced apart adistance equal to the distances between the rims and the wheels 3.Marking strips 22 are secured to the rims 20 and have pointed terminals23 projecting laterally beyond the rims. These marking strips 22 areparallel and are adapted to engage the soil successively and to formdepressions therein when the planting wheels are drawn over the soil.

Secured to the inner surface of each rim 20 are angular casings 24spaced apart equal distances and disposed radiallyv along certain of thespokes of the planting wheel.

The outer end of each casing 24 is open, as shown at 25 and registerswith an opening 26 extending through the wheel rim 20 and the adjacentportion of the marking strip 22. This casing is provided upon the innerfaces of opposed walls, with similar guide blocks 27 each of which has achannel 28 in that face thereof contacting with the wall of the casing24 while the other or inner face of the block is provided withdownwardly converging grooves 29 gradually increasing in, depth towardtheir lower ends. A tongue 30 extends below the lower ends of thechannels 29 and, as shown in Fig. (3, the outer walls of the channelsare preferably of less height than the inner walls thereof. These blocks27 are spaced, at their side edges from the corresponding walls of thecasing 24 so as to form passages 31 between the blocks and the sidewalls. These passages are adapted to receive spring pressed bolts 32carried by wings 33 extending upwardly from the pivotally connectedmembers 34 of the planting heads H. Each of these members is made up oftriangular side wings 35 and a bottom portion 36 connecting the sidewings, the bottom portions of the two sect-ions normally convergingdownwardly and contacting so as thus to form between the wings and theconverging bottom portions a pocket such as shown particularly in Fig.3. A spring 37 connects the upper ends of the wings 33 and exerts aconstant pull upon them. .he members 34 of the planting head, however,are prevented from swinging apart about their pivot 38 as a result ofthis action of the spring, by reason of the fact that the bolts 32 areheld spread apart by the blocks 27.

The pivot devices 38 are connected to the terminals of a fork 39 thearms of which are adapted to slide within channels 28 between the blocks,7 and a removable frame 40 which is arranged within the casing 24. Thisremovable frame has clamping screws 41 extending from the sides thereofand through blocks 42 in opposed walls of the casing Thus it will beseen that by loosening the screws 41, the frame 40 can be adjustedlongitudinally within casing 24 and the blocks 27, which are secured tothe frame, and the other parts of the planting mechanism,correspondingly adjusted within the frame. Springs 43 connect the fork30 with the upper or crown portion of the frame 40 so as to hold thefork yieldingly supported and with the planting head H normallyretracted into the casing 24, as shown in Fig. 3. A stem 44 extends fromthe fork 39 and through the frame 40 and the upper end of the casing 24,this stein carrying, at its outer or free end, an antifrict-ion roller45.

Secured to the spokes 21 between the hubs of the planting wheels and thecasings 24 are seed boxes 46. Each seed box is preferably cylindricaland may be secured to the spoke by means of straps 47 or the like. Thebox has an outlet spout 48 extending from the bottom thereof anddischarging into the end of the adjacent casing This out-let spout isnormally closed at its inlet end by a cut-off plate 49 which is slidablymounted in the discharge end portion of the seed box and has a pin 50upstanding therefrom and extending through a slot 51 in an arm 52. Thisarm is pivotally connected to a bracket 53 extending from the spoke 21and one end of the arm projects to a point where it will engage and beactuated by a tripping rod 54 which is fixedly connected to and extendsdownwardly from the non-rotatable shaft 13. A spring 55 connects the armwith the seed box 46 and se ves to hold it normally in position with theplate 49 closing the outlet of the seed box.

lit is of course to be understood that the inlet end of the seed box 46is to be closed in any suitable manner, as by means of a cap 56.

An arm 5'? extends downwardly from and is fixedly connected to the axle14 and is adjustably engaged by a cam linger :33, this linger beingadapted to slide along the arm and having a clamping screw 59 or thelike whereby it can be held in any position to which it may be adjusted.This cam finger 58 projects into the path of the anti.- friction rollers45 and is adapted to be contacted by them successively during therotation of the planting wheel.

It is to be understood that when it is not desired to plant seeds, it ismerely necessary to shift lever 18 so as to elevate the shaft 13 andlift the planting wheels out of con tact with the soil. lVhile thewheels are thus elevated they can be rotated so as to bring any one ofthe marking strips 22 into position for engaging the soil at a point inalineuient with a hill previously planted. After the planting wheelshave been thus adjusted they can be lowered into contact with the soiland the machine moved forward. During this movement the planting wheelswill be rotated by reason of their engagement with the soil and as eachof the casings 24 moves toward the point of contact with the soil thearm 52 thereabove moves against the tripping rod. 54 and is shiftedthereby so as to actuate the plates 49 and permit a predetermined numberof seeds to escape into the spout 4S and thence into the upper end ofthe casing 24. The seeds will gravitate through this casing 24 and intothe planting head H which, as shown in Fig. 3, is normally closedtogether at its lower end. Immediately prior to the time when the casing24 arrives in a vertical position, the roller 45 combined with saidcasing moves against the cam finger 58 and is forced downwardly thereby.The fork 39 is thus moved downwardly toward the outlet end of the casing25%, thereby placing spring 4E8 under stress. As the planting head H isconnected to the fork 39 it too will be moved downwardly and the closedend of the head will be pressed into the soil. During this movement ofthe head the bolts 32 will travel downwardly within the channels 31until they assume positions at the sides of the tongues 30 whereupon thespring 37, which is normally under stress, will pull the upper ends ofthe wings 33 toward each other and cause the bolts 32 to assumepositions below the lower ends of the channels 29. During this movementof the bolts toward the tongues 30, the lower end of the planting head His open and the seeds within the head are deposited within the soil. Assoon as the bolts move into register with the lower ends of the channels29, the springs l3, which are under stress, pull upwardly on the fork 39and cause the bolts 32 to slide upwardly within the channels 29. Asthese channels diverge upwardly, it will be seen that the bolts willgradually move apart and, as the depth of the channels diminishes towardthe upper ends thereof, the bolts will be gradually pressed back intotheir housings 32 until they pass out of the upper ends of the channels29 whereupon the bolts will spring outwardly into the passages 31 andthe parts will thus be reset and ready to repeat the operation abovedescribed. As each one of the casings 2 is brought down toward the lowerportion of the planting wheel, the planting mechanism will operate inthe manner hereinbefore described. Thus it will be seen that the seedswill be planted equal distances apart and it becomes unnecessary to formfurrows as each planting head carries the seeds downwardly into the soiland, when withdrawn from the soil, a portion of the loose soil will fallinto the opening and cover the seeds.

While the seeds are being planted, the wheels 3 are marking the pointwhere one of the next rows of seeds are to be planted. Furthermore thestrips 22 form depressions in the surface of the soil and by adjustingthe strips 22 at the beginning of a row so as to form depressionsalining with those previously produced, it will be seen that the seedscan be planted evenly. By adjusting the frame 40 within each casing 24,the depth of the planting can be regulated as desired. Such adjustmentwill of course necessitate corresponding adjustment of the cam finger5S.

importance is attached to the fact that as the planting wheels movealong the soil, portions of the soil will work up into the openings 26and the soil surrounding the openings will be compressed or packed bythe rims of the wheels. Thus, after the seeds have been planted, thehills will be clearly outlined upon the field. The depressions formed bythe marking strips 22 will likewise be clearly visible so that therewill be no difficulty in adjusting the machine at the beginning of eachrow.

hat is claimed is 1. A planter including a wheel, a radially disposedcasing therein, said casing having an outlet opening at its outer end,opposed members pivotally connected and mounted to slide within thecasing, said members being normally closed together at their outer ends,means for directing seeds into the casing and thence into the spacebetween the members, and means operated by the rotation of the wheel forautomatically projecting the members from the casing and into the soil,mov ing apart the lower ends of the members to deposit the seeds intothe soil, closing together the lower ends of the members, and retractingsaid members into the casing.

2. A planter including a wheel, a radially disposed casing thereinhaving an outlet opening at its outer end, pivotally connected membersnormally housed in the casing and closed together at their outer ends,means operated by the rotation of the wheel for shifting the membersfrom the casing and into the soil and retracting them into the casing,and means completely housed in the casing for automatically moving apartthe outer ends of the members while in the soil and closing themtogether during the retrac tion of the members into the casing.

3. A planter including a wheel supported structure, planting wheelsinterposed therebetween and mounted for rotation, markers connecting theperipheral portions of the planting wheels, a radially disposed casingwithin each planting wheel, opposed pivotally connected membersconstituting planting heads normally housed within the casings, a seedboX adapted to discharge into each casing and thence into the spacebetween the members constituting the head within the casing, cooperatingmeans upon the seed boxes and upon the wheel supported structure forsuccessively opening the seed boxes to discharge seeds therefrom, andcooperating means upon the wheel supported structure and the respectivemembers of each planting head, for acting upon the members in one casingto simultaneously project the members from the casing and into the soil,move said members apart at their lower ends, and retract the membersfrom the soil and into the casing.

4. In a planter, a casing, a guide block secured therein and havingdownwardly converging channels increasing in depth toward their innerends, a tongue spacing the lower ends of the channels, there beingpassages between the block and the adjacent walls of the casing,planting heads including pivotally connected downwardly convergingmembers forming a seed receiving pocket, yielding means for holding saidmembers normally spread apart, and means movable with the members alongthe passages to hold the members closed together, mechanism for shiftingsaid holding means downwardly within the passages and beyond the endsthereof to allow the opening of the planting head, and means forautomatically returning the said holding means to their initialpositions within the passages by way of the channels.

5. A planter including a casing, a plant ing head mounted to slidetherein and made up of pivotally connected members having downwardlyconverging bottom portions, wings extending from the members, guideblocks interposed between the wings and hating upwardly divergingchannels, there being a spacing projection between the lower ends of thechannels, said blocks being spaced from the walls of the casing to formside passages, yielding projections upon the wings and normallyextending into the passages, means for shifting said projectionsdownwardly within the passages beyond the lower ends thereof, means forautomatically shifting the projections toward each other and against thespacing means to open the members of the planting head, and means forautomatically returning the planting head to its elevated and closedposition by shifting the yielding projections upwardly within thechannels and into the upper ends of the passages.

6. A planter including a wheel, a plurality of radially disposedcasings, oppositely disposed pivotally connected similar membersnormally housed within each casing, said members being disposed inpairs, means for successively projecting the pairs of memhers beyond thecasings, means for moving apart the outer ends of the members of eachpair while projected, said means being completely housed within thecasings, and means completely housed within the casings forantomatically retracting the members into the casings subsequent to theopening thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. SPAULDING.

WVitnesses:

SELINA WILLsoN, ERNEST F. RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for i ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

